Projects in action

Our projects in action

Maintaining existing assets

We have recently completed a major stream bank stabilisation project in Wyong. We restabilised 150 metres of stream bank along Wyong River, just off Alison Road, to minimise erosion and sediment entering Tuggerah Lakes.The continued erosion at the site isn’t just threatening the Lakes, it’s also next to a busy road and important communications infrastructure.

The $2.4 million project was completed in two stages and came in under budget. Stage one involved contractors working from a barge to install steel piles and recycled concrete blocks and sandstone backfill. Stage two involved staff extending the rock backfill up the bank to form a sloped rock wall. We also provided a new cycleway, fence and landscaping.

The work will greatly benefit the community by providing long term stability to Alison Road and preventing further loss of sediment into the river and Tuggerah Lakes.

Wyong Shire Council’s Estuary Management Plan and associated works was only one of two entrants to receive two awards for the 2013 Sustainable Cities Awards Program offered by Keep Australia Beautiful NSW.

The Estuary Management Plan and associated works were awarded:

WINNER – Sydney Water – Sustainable Water Award

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Biodiversity Conservation Award

The Sustainable Cities Awards Program is aimed at projects that not only enhance the environment, but improve the quality of life for communities. Awards are presented to projects that inspire communities to make a genuine and lasting contribution to their area, working in partnership with local government, businesses, community groups, schools and individuals. The awards submissions focuses on the work completed under the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country $20 million grant, which ended after five years on 30 June 2013.

Some major achievements of the Estuary Management Plan works include:

48.4 ha of saltmarsh rehabilitation

37 km of stream bank rehabilitation on Saltwater, Tumbi and Ourimbah Creeks and Wyong River

375 Ha of Wetland protection and rehabilitation

Various community engagement and education programs

Council’s Manager Waterways and Asset Management, Andrew Pearce is excited to showcase the amazing work that has been completed. Although the Caring for our Country grant is now finished, Council is continuing the focus on the completion of works in the Tuggerah Lakes estuary under the Estuary Management Plan.“Ultimately we want to protect and enhance the values of our Tuggerah Lakes system to improve the standard of living and quality of life of our community,” Mr Pearce said.

Major focuses include the construction of new and upgraded stormwater quality improvement devices, increased maintenance of existing stormwater treatment devices, enhancements to popular lake foreshore recreational areas, and increased wrack harvesting.

Natural channel designs

One way of reducing pollution to Tuggerah Lakes is called source control. This means using methods to try and stop the pollution from being created in the first place rather than finding ways to catch and treat it at the lake’s edge.

A common form of pollution which flows into the Tuggerah Lakes is sediment, with much of this coming from open channels and open earth drains in the catchment. Two techniques are used to address this issue:

natural channel design - uses rock lining and vegetation to protect the soil in open channels and reduce sediment loads